Worlds 2009 Round 9: Two Friends Enter

Dave GuskinFriday, November 20, 2009

”Two feature matches in one day, how lucky!” said coverage reporter Bill Stark, passing Lybaert on his way to the feature match table.

“Last game, my opponent took my turn with Sorin Markov, and attacked himself for 1,” Lybaert replied. Quite lucky is the story his grin told.

PT–Hollywood Top 8er Lybaert wasn’t the only one with two feature matches thus far this draft: Pro Player of the Year 2007 Saito had retained his seat from the previous round and was waiting patiently for his Belgian opponent. The two greeted each other with a high-five rather than the customary handshake, clearly quite friendly and happy to be sitting at 8-0. Only one of them would leave the Arena as the sole remaining undefeated player in the individual competition.

Game 1

Saito led with a Soaring Seacliff, but the enters-the-battlefield-tapped land paled in comparison to Lybaert’s: the mighty Valakut. On his turn two, Lybaert followed up with a Highland Berserker, and since Saito only had lands, the Berserker got in there. Lybaert followed up with another 2/1, his first pick Goblin Shortcutter.

Saito sat and thought with his board of Island, Swamp, Swamp on Lybaert’s end step, and decided to Hideous End the Berserker. He continued on his turn with Hagra Crocodile, but it just sat idly by while the Shortcutter crashed in, making the life totals Lybaert 18, Saito 16. He finished with a Shatterskull Giant.

Saito landfell and swung in with his Croc, put Lybaert down to 13. His Vampire Hexmage followup seemed okay, but Lybaert had a kicked Torch Slinger waiting for the now 3/1 Croc. Shatterskull Giant got in there unimpeded, making it 13–12 for Lybaert. Saito’s next turn brought a replacement from the Hagra swamps, a Diabolist, evening the life totals at 12 apiece.

Saito had a hasty shade in Crypt Ripper, and as a 3/3 it took down both blockers that Lybaert sent in its way—the Shortcutter and the Slinger. The 4/3 Giant kept swinging on the much clearer board, taking Saito down to 8. A Molten Ravager later, Lybaert passed the turn, sitting at Valakut plus five Mountains. Eruption was imminent.

Saito kicked a Heartstabber Mosquito to take down the Ravager, and swung in with his Vampire Hexmage. This brought Lybaert down to 10, but it also meant Saito had only the Mosquito to block. When Lybaert untapped and asked Saito to confirm his life total, Saito knew that it wouldn’t be enough.

Saito pondered for a bit, then swung in with his Raptor, bringing life totals to Saito 20, Lybaert 18. He merely had a Soaring Seacliff post-combat and passed.

Lybaert thought for only a moment, then aimed the Mark of Mutiny at Saito’s Vampire Hexmage. Saito resolved not to let Lybaert do any marking this time—he sacrified it targeting the Berserker. Lybaert helpfully pointed at Saito’s Raptor as a potential target, but Saito shook his head with a smile. They were friends, but not that friendly.

When Lybaert smashed in with his two two-drops, Saito had an Into the Roil for the Instigator. With Saito deploying a Hagra Diabolist to drain and to grow the Raptor, the life totals became 18-13 in his favor postcombat. Not to be left out of a race, Lybaert cracked back with his Berserker. Saito declined to block, going down to 16.

Lybaert summoned a fearsome Shatterskull Giant, but Saito calmly attacked into it with the Hagra Diabolist and they traded. Lybaert was down to 10, and when he tried to resummon the Warren Instigator, Saito was ready with a Summoner’s Bane. Somewhat dejected, Lybaert cracked his Map for the Molten Pinnacle and gave the turn back to his opponent.

Saito sent in the Raptor again, making it a somewhat lopsided 16-7, and cluttered the board with Kraken Hatchling and unkicked Heartstabber Mosquito. Lybaert could only chuckle as his next turn gave him an also unkicked Goblin Bushwhacker. The two flyers brought him down to 2, and when he untapped and swung in with his 2/1 and 1/1, Saito hesitated to consider all the possible outs Lybaert might have.

“It’s okay,” Lybaert said as Saito browsed his graveyard, smiling and scooping up his cards. They moved on to the final game.

Lybaert 1, Saito 1

As Saito shuffled, Lybaert became curious about Saito’s previously revealed small turtle Illusion token and delved into the Japanese player’s box of similar tiny animals.

“Sorry, those are my buddies!” Saito said when he noticed, taking them back and chuckling. Lybaert chuckled along with him, putting his hands up at coming between Saito and his miniature friends.